Europe & CIS

Living with HIV in Eastern Europe and CIS: The human cost of social exclusion

Bratislava, Slovak Republic, 21 January 2009-Discrimination and the social exclusion of people living with HIV are undermining efforts to respond to AIDS, according to a new report “Living with HIV in Eastern Europe and CIS: The human cost of social exclusion” http://europeandcis.undp.org/rhdr.aids2008, which is being released by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in conjunction with both World AIDS Day and the 60^th Anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

FYR Macedonia - Methodology for measuring the Index of Responsibility, Transparency and Accountability (RTA) at local level

Skopje, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 19 January 2009-Addressing corruption is a key priority  for Western Balkan countries hoping to join the European Union. However, one of the shortcomings in the fight against corruption is the lack of precise tools to identify the potential sources of corruption in institutions. In response to this shortcoming, a methodology for measurement of the level of responsibility, transparency and accountability in the local government has been developed in the framework of the UNDP"S Good Governance & Decentralization programmes. The framework identifies the most vulnerable points to corruption in FYR Macedonia and provides mechanisms on how to address these vulnerabilities.

Public Oversight of the Security Sector: A Handbook for Civil Society Organizations

Bratislava, Slovak Republic, 13 January 2009-A resource handbook for grassroots organizations to help them monitor governmental security agencies is now available from the United Nations Development Programme-Bratislava Regional Centre and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces.

The handbook provides structured guidance for civil society organizations (CSOs) on the role they can play in democratic security sector oversight: principally, how they can plan, structure and implement their activities in an informed and efficient manner.

This handbook for civil society organizations on public oversight of the security sector collects experiences from around the world and formulates practical guidance for civil society on how to help make the security sector not only law-abiding but also transparent and accountable to society. This handbook contains a wealth of information, which I am convinced will prove to be a valuable tool for civil society organizations working on security sector oversight. CSOs have a vital role to play in security sector oversight and security sector reform, a role that your organization is strongly encouraged to undertake. To facilitate your organization’s participation in this important endeavour, the different roles civil society can play in democratizing the security sector are fully explored.

Development and Transition Newsletter - Rural Development and Food Security

Bratislava, Slovak Republic, January 2009-The December 2008 issue of Development and Transition examines the role of the state in agricultural and rural development policy, the future of EU structural funds, the place for civic initiatives, the success of rural businesses, the prospects for extension schemes, and the face of rural inequality. The final piece asks, ‘Is the village dying?’ and concludes that ‘rumours of the death of the countryside are exaggerated’.

From Russia With Love

A national chapter of the global CSR agenda, an original research undertaken between June and September 2008, is based on a survey of 258 senior executives from international companies with a turnover over USD 1bn, along with more than 20 in-depth interviews with business leaders and CSR experts. This is the first research to provide a comprehensive analysis of CSR practices by Russian majors as well as comparing them with those of the peers worldwide and in the most dynamic economies.

Baseline Study on Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in the Western Balkans

The Baseline study on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices in the Western Balkans is the first comprehensive CSR analysis conducted in the region. The report covers Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo/UNMIK, Montenegro and Serbia. It provides a detailed analysis of CSR practices in the region and illustrates existing drivers, barriers, and resources for CSR engagement and promotion. The reports makes a number of recommendations that can be widely utilized by all stakeholders involved in CSR implementation – including businesses, governments, civil society, academia, development partners, and the media – in assessing their current CSR policies and in designing new initiatives.

Trade and Human Development: How to Conduct Trade Needs Assessments in Transition Economies

This guide is designed to help policymakers, trade officials and researchers conduct needs assessment studies on trade and human development under the Aid for Trade initiative conceived at the 2005 World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong. Despite the variations between countries and the challenges of linking trade and human development, it is possible to identify a number of analytical tools for conducting an assessment. The guide aims to show how this can be done with a focus on transition economies.

Post-Conflict Economic Recovery: Enabling Local Ingenuity

The report, Post-Conflict Economic Recovery: Enabling Local Ingenuity, is a comprehensive analysis focusing on three critical factors:  the importance of local ingenuity to guide recovery, the state’s role in promoting this ingenuity, and the policies needed to rebuild battered economies and reduce the risk of conflict recurrence. The study cites examples of countries that have succeeded in rekindling post-conflict economies and those that continue to flounder, discussing the foundations that are so vital to foster post-conflict economic recovery.

Building Lasting Relationships Islandwide

The UNDP Peace Building Programme in Cyprus, Action for Cooperation and Trust, was launched in October 2005 and will end in September 2011. This publication outlines the achievements of the Programme over the last three years and highlights its successes in promoting reconciliation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and also describes UNDP’s peace building work for the period 2008-20011.  

World Trade Organization. Notes on the content and process. Handbook in Russian

The Handbook explains the general principles and processes of the WTO. The author elaborates on the signifcant decisions that have been made in past negotiations, specifically those that are relevant to the current negotiations launched by the Doha Ministerial Declaration in 2001. The original publication was released by the UNDP Regional Centre in Colombo in November 2006.

Social Enterprise: A new model for poverty reduction and employment generation

This report finds that traditional development initiatives in post-communist states often focus on bolstering the private sector or the state, while ignoring organizations that combine for-profit activities with social aims.  It covers 12 post-communist countries and includes three in-depth sections devoted to the social enterprise phenomenon in Poland, Serbia and Ukraine. It suggests a number of ways to promote social enterprises in transition countries, including efforts to make the legal and political environments more favourable, holding outreach and advocacy initiatives that engage decision makers and the public, setting up agencies specifically designed to support social enterprises, and providing ‘seed money’ and small grants aiming to sustain social enterprises.

Development and Transition, 10th issue, "Climate Change"

Issue ten of the UNDP-LSE publication focuses on the challenges of climate change in Europe and the CIS, and the national and regional responses. Topics discussed include the threats posed to water supply by melting glaciers, Russian potential for renewable energy generation and the legal and regulatory steps needed to make carbon finance a viable activity in the region.  

www.developmentandtransition.net

Georgia 2008 National Human Development Report: The Reforms and Beyond

The report examines the extent to which post-Revolution reforms have impacted on human development opportunities. Specifically, the report looks at the way the reforms have affected the efficiency of the economy; the equity with which people are treated and resources are used; the sustainability of the political, economic and social environment; the physical and economic security of the population; and their level of empowerment to take control of their lives and make choices.

Kosovo Early Warning Report, May 2008: Fast Facts

The latest report from the Kosovo Early Warning System Project, released in May 2008, shows that development issues attract ever more attention from the population of Kosovo. Social issues such as unemployment, poverty, electricity and prices are considered the main problem by more and more Kosovo citizens after the Declaration of Independence by the Kosovo Assembly. However, trust in security institutions has fallen among Kosovo Serbs. The Kosovo Early Warning System Project is a component of UNDP’s regional early warning framework.

Ethnicity as a statistical indicator for the monitoring of living conditions and discrimination

Slovak-language publication offering public policy makers and the broader public a review of ethnic data collection in Europe as well as an analysis of the situation in Slovakia. This report closely examines: 

1) concept documents, legislation and discussion at the supranational level – mainly at the levels of the Council of Europe and the European Commission;
2) legislation, institutions and practices in the area of ethnicity-related data in Slovakia; and
3) legislation, institutions and practices regarding ethnicity data in selected EU countries.

A comparison within these three contexts – European, Slovak and selected national states – leads to certain conclusions and recommendations.

Progress Report on the National Strategy "On Improving the Living Conditions of the Roma Community", Albania

The Albanian Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, with support from UNDP, produced a report to measure progress on implementation of the National Strategy for Improving the Living Conditions of the Roma Community. Covering the areas of education and training; cultural heritage and family; economy, employment, poverty reduction and social protection; health care and infrastructure; and public order, justice and civil administration, the report also includes recommendations that are necessary to achieve full implementation of the Strategy.

Demographic Policy in Russia: from Reflection to Action

The demographic problem remains one of the most severe challenges in modern Russia: the ongoing population decline and shrinking workforce caused by low fertility, high mortality, ageing, a reduction in the working share of the population, and so far indistinct migration policy pose risks for the future of the country. The United Nations in the Russian Federation and the Center of Strategic Research present the UN in Russia joint publication Demographic Policy in Russia: from Reflection to Action, prepared by a group of independent national experts.
 

Youth in Turkey: national human development report 2008

The 2008 National Human Development Report was launched in Ankara on 21 March 2008 with the participation of public and private institutions, ambassadors, NGOs, academics, parliamentarians and international organizations.

Turkey must now focus on developing comprehensive policies for youth in order to ensure that the country has a healthy, educated, and skilled society to face the challenges of next 15 years and beyond, according to the 2008 Human Development Report for Turkey, which was launched on 21 March 2008 in Ankara.

The report, launched by the United Nations Development Programme and entitled Youth in Turkey, offers guidance on how employment, education and health policies for youth need to be reshaped to ensure that these policies are people-oriented and better prepare the country for the coming demographic challenges.

Corruption in Montenegro 2007: Overview over Main Problems and Status of Reforms

Following a long state-building process, public attention in Montenegro is increasingly turning to governance issues. International observers have pointed out that two of the "key challenges" that Montenegro needs to confront on its way to EU membership are weak governance and the perceived wide prevalence of corruption. This report identifies the key challenges Montenegro faces with regard to corruption and the best hopes for progress, and makes a number of recommendations. 

Development and Transition, 9th issue, "Energy and the Environment"

The ninth issue of Development and Transition newsletter focuses on questions of energy and the environment in our region, with a particular focus on land degradation, biodiversity, water, energy politics, and the role of civil society in pushing for more environmentally friendly policies. The issue discusses land degradation in Central Asia, reforestation in Uzbekistan, potential floods in Tajikistan, biodiversity in Cyprus, environmental NGOs in Central Europe, as well as the successes, failures and implications of Russia's post-2005 gas policies.

Development and Transition is a joint publication of the United Nations Development Programme and the London School of Economics. It aims to be a forum for policy-oriented discussions and debates about how the nature, evolution and challenges of development and transition intersect in Central and Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Turkey.